Three months. That's all the time left until the next major competition.
For Juliana, it was clear—her goal was to face Kaizen as her opponent.
For Kaizen, it didn't matter who stood before him. The result would be the same.
In the Heavens Arena, there was no shortage of formidable challengers, and Juliana was one of the best among them.
"Speaking of which," someone murmured in the stands, "the Floor Masters are basically the core of the Heavens Arena's upper management. Most of the higher-ups here are either Floor Masters themselves or closely associated with them."
The excitement in the air was palpable as the event day arrived. The auditorium was packed to the brim, with tickets selling out faster than ever. Even Kaizen's companions, Nina and the others, couldn't secure seats. They had to settle for watching the event on the massive screen in their luxury suite.
Despite the hype surrounding the primary floor challenge, the battle between Kaizen and Juliana was already being hailed as one of the most highly anticipated matches in recent memory.
Juliana, a seasoned contender, had already earned the right to challenge a Floor Master. Even if she failed, her experience was undeniable.
Kaizen, on the other hand, was a prodigy. In just five matches, he had achieved four decisive victories and one strategic forfeit. With six more wins, he, too, would qualify to challenge a Floor Master.
But Kaizen's strength wasn't the only thing drawing attention—it was his age. A teenager barely in his early teens, dominating at such a high level, was unheard of.
Young geniuses like him always had a way of captivating the masses.
In contrast, Juliana's appeal came from her unique persona. Her combination of a strikingly feminine face and a muscular physique created an endearing contrast that resonated with her fans. Some were even obsessed enough to hoard her pictures, indulging in fantasies during lonely nights.
When the match began, the crowd erupted in cheers:
"Julie! Julie!"
"Marry me!"
"I love you!"
"Go, Kaizen!"
Both fighters had their supporters, but Juliana, being the more experienced competitor, had a larger fan base. Neither, however, paid their fans any mind. Both were here for one reason alone—strength.
...
The Match Begins
"Start!"
At the referee's command, Kaizen and Juliana sprang into action.
"Ten! Zetsu! Ren!"
Kaizen executed three Nen techniques in rapid succession. Ten provided him with basic aura defense. Zetsu suppressed his aura to avoid detection. Ren amplified his aura output, allowing him to maintain both offense and defense simultaneously.
Juliana advanced with steady, confident strides. Her clenched fists shot forward like cannons, aimed directly at Kaizen.
Boom!
The sound of her punch echoed through the arena. Compared to Kaizen's previous opponent, Occam, Juliana was significantly faster and stronger.
But Kaizen was unfazed.
"Whip Strike!"
Pivoting on his left foot, Kaizen spun his body, his right hand snapping out like a whip.
Snap!
Juliana barely managed to block with her forearm, but the force of the attack sent a sharp wave of pain through her body. She winced, her expression betraying her discomfort.
"You're good," Juliana admitted, gritting her teeth. "Better than I expected. Looks like I'll need to get serious."
She stepped back, taking a defensive stance.
"I'm about to unveil my trump card. Be ready."
Kaizen narrowed his eyes. A surge of powerful aura radiated from Juliana, causing a stir among the spectators.
The Trump Card
"What incredible aura!" someone in the audience exclaimed.
"Juliana's been holding back this entire time?"
"Is this the result of her training after failing to challenge a Floor Master?"
"Kaizen might actually be in trouble!"
Kaizen, however, remained calm, his lips curling into a faint smirk.
"This is your trump card?" he muttered to himself. "Ko? That's all?"
Ko, a high-level Nen technique, allowed its user to focus and refine their aura for a short burst of enhanced power. But to Kaizen, who had mastered far more advanced techniques, it was hardly intimidating.
In the Heavens Arena, the knowledge of Nen was highly secretive. Techniques like Ko, despite being relatively simple to learn, were rarely shared openly. Most rookies learned only the basics—Ten for defense and Ren for offense. Anything more advanced was a mystery to them.
Kaizen's knowledge of Nen, however, came from two distinct advantages: his training as a member of the Zoldyck family and his identity as a time traveler.
"Ko might seem impressive to the uninformed," Kaizen thought, "but it's nothing special. Just a tool to condense aura more effectively. It won't save her."
Lowering his stance, Kaizen prepared for his next move.
With explosive speed, Kaizen shot forward, closing the distance between them in an instant.
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